Did You Know . . .

A democracy requires more than freedom of speech and the right to vote.

Democracy requires adquate education so that people know what is happening.

Democracy requires a free and often critical press to promote the dialogue upon which democracy thrives.

Democracy begins at home and in the early years of school as children are taught self discipline and the tools of discussion and compromise.

Democracy depends on the rule of law accepted by all - even when there is disagreement.

Democracy depends on the equal treatment of all people, as well as care for animals and the earth.

In a democracy, everyone upholds the right to speech.  You should not have to fight for your right to speak.

In a democracy, wealth, position and power do not give anyone  more say than another.  All opinions are worth hearing.

Democracy is a treasure that, if burried, becomes worth infinitely more.

You do not find democracy, you work hard to make it. You can lose democracy by forgetting what is needed to maintain it.

In a democracy, a constitution protects the equal rights of all to a voice in making laws and outlines the system for making laws.

In a democracy, dissent is healthy.  It leads to creativity in forming new ideas, developing new ways.

Democracy fosters the formation of groups around ideas and opinions.  This is healthy so long as the right of a majority is honoured.

In a democracy there are laws which protect minorities from a tyrrany by the majority.

Nepal will eventually have a healthy and beloved democracy.  If not now, soon . . . talk about it.  That is the only way it will happen.

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Full Index to Member Organizations

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Study Materials for Constitutional Discussions

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Critical Reading

• Creating the New Constitution: A Guide for Nepali Citizens[+]
• Copy of the 2007 Interim Constitution [+]
• Constituent Assembly Procedures from a Gender Perspective [+]
• The Constituent Assembly of Nepal: An Agenda for Women [+]
• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child [+]

.PDF Documents of Importance   (.pdf reader required - see above)

• Programme Report on Ratification of Rome Statute and its jurisdiction 29 July 2008, Kathmandu
• One Year of Parliamentary Direction Call for Accession to Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court 25 July 2007 NCICC
  
  
• The State of the Rights of the Child in Nepal – 2004 National Report Prepared by CWIN
• Nepal: The Maoists’ conflict and impact on the rights of the child 20 May 2005 Asian Center for Human Rights
  
  
• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 18 December 1979
• Special Rapporteur, Violence Against Women: United Nations Department of Public Information DPI/1772/HR--February 1996

News Articles of Importance

• 72 January 2009: Nepal bans dowry, caste-based discrimination: Taking strict note of dowry-related violence and caste-based discrimination faced by dalits, Nepal’s prime minister Prachanda has made such practices criminal offence under the country's law. The move comes amidst growing discontent over the government’s performance to win public support. [+]
  
  
• 10 Mar 2007: Nepali human rights defenders demanded immediate accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), submitting a memorandum to the Speaker of the Interim Legislature. Nine Nepali human rights organizations, as well as human rights activists, journalists, lawyers and intellectuals came together to call upon the government to fulfill the commitment passed by the Parliament in July 2006.[+]
  
  
• 14 FebruaRY 2008: Civil Society Forum on Peace, Development and Foreign Aid: Civil Society Concerns: Right a week before the start of Nepal Donors Coordination Meeting (NDCM) by the government of Nepal, the civil society organizations (CSOs) of Nepal have scheduled a civil society forum (CSF) on Peace, Development and Foreign Aid: Civil Society Concerns for 14 and 15 February 2008 in Kathmandu. The forum, organised by the CSOs working in various fields including democracy, human rights, peace, development and constitutional issues, and coordinated by the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), is aimed at bringing the concerns of the grassroots people together with dalit, janajati, women, people with different abilities, geographically disadvantaged, poor peasants and squatters, workers, youths and other marginalised groups on people's perspectives in the peace process and the development priority in changing political context of Nepal and providing inputs and feedbacks to the NDCM scheduled for 20-22 February 2008. While the government has set agenda for discussion during the NDCM around economic reform and aid effectiveness, peace process, governance and constitutional issues, among others, the CSOs are set to discuss the themes as:
  • Role and importance of CSOs in the peace process in Nepal
  • How the different interests of the people can be negotiated through constituent assembly elections
  • Equitable and justifiable restructuring of the state: how development partners can be a help in Nepal
  • Building peace from below: rehabilitation, reconciliation, reintegration and reconstruction next document [+]
    
    
• Women's Corner at the Women's Foundation Web Site has many good articles covering a range of issues related to women and children in Nepal. [+]